Music director enthusiastic about new venture

HILLSDALE — Bringing with him a vast musical background, John Ourensma is the new music director at the Hillsdale First United Methodist Church.

Organizer Barb Vallieu headed up a committee of 11 who began searching for a new director one year ago.

“We began to envision the music ministry for our church and through some dreaming and inspiration came up with possibilities to serve the community…,” Vallieu said. “It’s very evident to us it’s a good match.”

The opportunity to provide a full time director of music and to have the church minister to the community is something the committee felt was a longtime tradition of the church.

“We’ve had a tradition of outstanding musical leaders - amazing individuals who have served our church well,” Vallieu said. “This is maintaining that tradition and really expanding and embracing the opportunity we have.”

Ourensma formerly served as a part-time director of music at the Lake City Union Church in Lake City, Iowa. In addition to serving as organist and pianist for worship, he was involved in worship planning and assisting with the adult and handbell choirs.

He also worked with the Dobson Pipe Organ Builders in Lake City where responsibilities included pipe making, shop and finish voicing, assisting in new organ installations, and working in other areas of pipe organ building, service and tuning.

From 1991-99, he was an organist with the Battle Creek Symphony Orchestra and regularly performed as soloist, accompanist and continuo player (harpsichord).

His professional experience includes work as minister of music at the First Presbyterian Church in Battle Creek from 1986-99. The full-time music program there involved conducting three vocal choirs and a handbell choir, leading various instrumental and vocal ensembles, coaching soloists and teaching vocal, piano and organ lessons.

From 1980-86, Ourensma served as organist and choirmaster at Collingwood Presbyterian Church in Toledo, Ohio. There, accomplishments with the full music program included forming a new youth choir, strengthening the integration of music in worship services and guiding an organ renovation project, among others.

Other experience includes teaching organ seminars at Lynchburg College in Lynchburg, Va., serving as director of music at Rivermont Presbyterian Church in Lynchburg and holding numerous part-time organ and conducting positions at various churches during high school and college years.

Ourensma recently outlined advantages of serving in a smaller church rather than a big suburban church with high membership.

“You get more intimately involved and it gives a better chance to connect in deeper ways,” he said.

Although there is not a large demographic for a children’s choir here, he hopes that by integrating young people into a larger all-voice choir, he can eventually develop spin off groups from the larger one.

Page 2 of 2 - “We have a lot of interest in music here,” he said.

The first task is to get to know the people, and with the help of Renee Nestorak, the contemporary music leader, Ourensma hopes to “blur the lines” between the styles of music.

“Music and worship is a continuum,” Ourensma said. “Music is there for us to use in creative ways.”

Ourensma said there is a broad variety to the whole of Christian sacred music and he is always looking for new things in the revolution of the electronic age. Organ music is something he enjoys and he looks for ways to dispel stereotypes about it being an instrument of the past.

“The organ is a fascinating, colorful instrument,” he said.

Choosing music with the pastor is what works best, he added. This ensures everything in the worship experience connects.

With the goal to enliven worship with music, Ourensma said the second step is “to take it out to the community - to build bridges, with the main focus on sharing the gospel.

“Our goal is to help with activities… to find a niche in how we can fit with the bigger picture, while supporting what is going on,” he said.

The Rev. Pat Brook said she appreciates Ourensma’s knowledge of the theology of worship and how music is a part of it.

“He has a depth of understanding that I appreciate,” Brook said.

Vallieu lauded Ourensma’s ability to put together a recital in 40 minutes by working with various ones and seeing their potential while using his teaching expertise.

“He was able to see how it all worked together and did it with confidence that comes with experience,” Vallieu said.